The family of a student who died of cancer has donated over £14,000 to numerous charities after organising a series of fundraising events to keep his memory alive.

Conor MacDonald passed away on the 17th October last year, aged 21, after a two-year battle with lymphoma - a type of blood cancer.

Since then his family and friends, including his uncles, former X-Factor finalists the Macdonald Brothers, have been fundraising in Conor’s memory for the charities that helped him through his battle including the Teenage Cancer Trust, CLIC Sargent, The Beatson and the Team Jak Foundation.

Conor’s Dad, Jim MacDonald said: “Conor was a good lad, I’m not just saying that because he was my son. Everybody loved him, he never complained, he was always smiling and out partying up to four weeks before he died. He just loved life.”

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Jim explained how Conor, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2015, had been diagnosed with Asperger’s, a type of autism, as a child.

Jim said: “He was diagnosed with Asperger’s very early on and had to overcome a lot of challenges with that. He was a special boy and I’m really really lucky to have him as a son.

“No one really knew he had Asperger’s with the type of boy he was. We mentioned it at his funeral and it encouraged one of his brother’s friends to come out and tell everyone that he had it.

“It’s inspirational and beyond words how I feel about him.”

Conor was then diagnosed with cancer in February 2015 after going to a dermatologist with the symptoms of itching and swelling on his face and neck. He was referred to Glasgow Royal Infirmary where he was put through tests.

It was discovered that he had a tumour the size of a smartphone in his chest.

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Conor went through a biopsy and chemotherapy and after six months the tumour had shrunk by 50%. He started radiotherapy, but by Christmas had started developing symptoms again and went through another round of chemotherapy which failed.

Jim said: “The tumour continued to grow again to the original size, as it is a very fast growing cancer, and consultants put him on clinical trial drugs however realised they were not going to work and that the cancer had spread to his lungs by this point.”

Conor passed away in October last year, after a brave battle with the illness.

A charity night in remembrance of the 21-year-old took place last month on the 3rd February, in the Campsie, Bishopbriggs, where £4275 was raised.

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Brian and Craig became the housewives’ favourites in series three. The Ayrshire brothers finished fourth. They have had a successful recording and live career since, performing at corporate events and cruise shows. (Image: ITV)

Conor’s uncles Craig and Brian otherwise known as ‘The MacDonald Brothers’ who were X Factor finalists in 2006, performed a set on the night.

The boys, who shot to fame on the third series of the show, have since gone on to release four albums.

Conor’s mum, Margaret Macdonald, who works for Barclays, managed to secure sponsorship for the event as well as donations such as football strips and a signed football from Jim’s work colleagues.

Jim added: “We couldn’t have done it without the help of family and friends.

The fundraising page for Conor

“Everyone’s support has been absolutely outstanding. This whole ordeal has restored my faith in humanity.

“We felt that the charities had done so much for us and Conor by allowing him to live his life as normal as possible before he died.

“They sent him to T in the Park and a Coldplay concert both as VIP, things like that are hard to get. “They gave him a catalyst to keep going because he tried to keep himself as fit as possible to go out and enjoy these things, he loved music and wanted to have a good time.”

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The family split the money raised donating £2000 to the Teenage Cancer Trust, £2000 to CLIC Sargent and £275 to the Team Jak Foundation.

Vanessa Todd, Regional Fundraiser at Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “We are so very grateful to Conor’s friends and family for their amazing fundraising efforts. It is thanks to them that we will be able to reach even more young people across the UK like Conor to make sure they don’t face cancer alone.”

Last November Conor’s friends ‘braved the shave’ raising over £7000 by going bald in another fundraising mission and donating the money to The Beatson cancer centre for the future care of patients where Conor was treated.

The Brave the Shave event for conor

Jim said: “A massive amount of respect goes to Conor’s brother, cousin and friends who shaved their hair off and raised the money for the future care of the patients.”

During his battle with cancer his friends suggested this idea which Conor refused as he knew how much losing hair meant after he lost his twice due to chemotherapy.

At Conor’s funeral collections were also made for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Jim’s employer donated £1700 to the cause.

Friends of Conor’s who were also battling cancer at the same time attended his funeral and were reassured by Jim “they weren’t to feel bad that they got through it and Conor didn’t.”

A big thank you from the Teenage Cancer Trust

On the 17th June Conor’s brother Aidan MacDonald along with friends will take part in Tough Mudder, a 13 mile military style assault course event in Thornhill, Dumfries to raise more money for CLIC Sargent.

Conor’s Mum Margaret MacDonald said: “We are happy to support anything we can do to raise the charities profiles as we want to thank them for helping Conor.”

To support Aidan and friends click on the following link to donate: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Conor-MacDonald